The Boyd Bronco offense threw everything it had and then some at the Eastside Bulldogs this week during the two teams' first meeting. It was a heavyweight slugfest until the end and the Bulldog offense escaped Westwood with a 49-45 win over Boyd.
Jamison Brock gave Eastside all the Bulldogs wanted and more. Brock scored a game-high 16 points in the loss to the Bulldogs.
Cruz Reyes was the top scorer for Eastside with 13.
The Bronco offense came out and fired on all cylinders and they outran the Bulldogs in the early going. They were led by Brock who scored eight of his 18 in the first quarter. Brock slipped past the defense on two occasions for four points. On his other four points, the Bulldog defense sent him to the charity stripe. Brayden Scott and Bryson Stiles also added points to the Boyd total.
Trayton Cole was almost the only Bulldog player to score against the tough and aggressive Boyd defense. He dropped six against the Bronco defense and Reyes added a free throw. After the first, Eastside trailed 13-7.
The tables were turned in the second and Eastside opened up its offense and spread the floor. Reyes unloaded two huge 3-point shots. Caden Beaty also fired a shot from behind the arch. Inside the defense Christian Rogers went to work and he picked up his first four points of the game.
On the other end, Boyd started to stumble and the Bronco offense slowed slightly. Brock continued his attack on the basket. He had more help in the second and Dallas Greene and Mark Mason added points and helped Boyd stay on the pace. After two quarters of intense basketball the two teams were locked at 24-24.
After the halftime break, Eastside continued to spread its offense and forced Boyd to extend the defense. Reyes fired from way outside and he connected on his third 3-point shot. Rogers also fired from deep and he connected from 3-point range. By the end of the third quarter, Boyd had edged the Bulldogs and led 38-36.
It was a dogfight to the end and the Bulldogs continued to claw their way to the front. The jaws of the defense slowed the Boyd offense enough to claim the win late in the fourth quarter. Beaty for Eastside scored six points late in the game while the defensive focus was turned to Rogers and Reyes.
Boyd found the rim in the final period but just not often enough. Jordan Hoover added a free throw just before time expired.
Eastside came back and claimed the lead just in time and escaped Boyd with a 49-45 win.
BULLDOG SCORING – Cruz Reyes 13, Christian Rogers 12, Trayton Cole 11, Caden Beaty 11, Dylan Partain 2
BRONCO SCORING – Jamison Brock 16, Mark Mason 10, Brayden Scott 10, Dallas Greene 4, Bryson Stiles 3, and Jordan Hoover 2